TT: TERROR ALERT!!!

POLICE from several divisons cut off access to streets around the Red House, Police Headquarters and the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Courts yesterday morning as a high alert went into effect because of “bomb threats.” Members of the Inter-Agency Task force, the Port-of-Spain CID, the Criminal Records Office, the Guard and Emergency Branch and other departments responded to three telephones calls received by a clerk at the police headquarters shortly before 11 am, which warned of a plan to blow up these buildings. The police response prevented the free movement of vehicular traffic around the buildings. The area was jammed with vehicles unable to move in any direction. Traffic was at a “snail’s pace” as police tried to re-route vehicles.

The clerk who received the message passed it on to the seniors, and immediately the main streets to enter or reach these offices were cordonded off while the areas were searched. Even pedestrians entering the blocked off streets had to identify themselves and state where they were going before getting the go-ahead to proceed. One officer described it as an “event of a very sensitive nature.” At around 2 pm head of the Guard and Emergency Branch,  Ag Supt Lopez, indicated he received a call from Acting Commissioner of Police Trevor Paul who said the “situation” was over and the roads could be reopened, but not before the situation had caused considerable inconvenience. In a statement later, Ag CoP Paul admitted the “bomb scare” and said roads were temporarily closed as a precautionary action. He also admitted the roads were re-opened and commuters were free to drive and walk through after checks were made. Police sources said that they still remained on “high alert,” but the blocking-off of the street was called off so as not to panic the public.

Sources also confirmed the quick response came after a call from a member of a fundamental religious organisation who recently indicated that “what they had done before, they could do again.” Information reaching Newsday was that the recent find of bomb-related and terrorist equipment at a house in St James was also part of the reason why police took no chances. Senior sources told Newsday: “This time we were ready and will always be ready. “At no time are we going to let the events of the 1990 coup happen again. “This time, if any of the persons who took part in the 1990 coup get involved, we will deal with them a certain way.” Head of the Jamaat al Muslimeen Imam Yasin Abu Bakr, whose name and organisation was mentioned in this latest action, is out of the country.

This time, no surrender, no retreat, no living terrorists remaining.